Ronnie Laws with Mayuto Correa Friday at Vonn Jazz

This Friday May 13th the Vonn Jazz Lounge hosts jazz saxophonist, Ronnie Laws, for 2 shows at 7pm and again later at 10pm. Ronnie Laws’ name is virtually synonymous with good music. True Laws fans know, this gifted contemporary music artist is by no means a new-comer to the business. A native of Houston, Texas, born October 3, 1950, the third in a famous line of four musicians that include his classically trained Jazz flautist brother, Hubert, and his vocalist sisters, Eloise and Debra. Performing with Ronnie is guitarist & percussionist, Mayuto Correa. General Admission tickets are $20 with preferred seating $30 and $35. Make reservations at http://www.vonnjazz.com/.

More About Ronnie Laws

In 1970 he moved to Los Angeles, where he found work under the tutelage of such legendary talents as The Jazz Crusaders and Hugh Masakela. His formative training also included stints with Jazz pianist Walter Bishop Jr. and organist Doug Cann. He was a member of the 70’s much-revered soul group Earth Wind and Fire, where he played tenor and soprano sax for a two-year stint, before finally venturing out to pursue a solo career.

Assisted by immortal Jazz great Donald Byrd, he soon signed his first recording contract with Blue Note records, resulting in the impressive debut album Pressure Sensitive (1975), produced by family friend, Wayne Henderson, (a founding member of the contemporary jazz pioneers The Crusaders), which rapidly emerged to become the longest selling album, at that time, in the 42 year history of the label. Pressure Sensitive, was followed up by his second album Fever (1976).

Controversy quickly erupted around him, with so called Jazz “purist”, criticizing Laws’ inventive, non-traditional, “Jazz Fusion” style. Laws promptly answered his critics by also scoring unprecedented cross-over success in R&B and Pop, in addition to Jazz, and receiving multiple awards for originality in the process.

Laws is a proven natural at combining the exploratory heart of Jazz with the broader reaching strains of Soul and Pop music. His first hit, “Always There” (credited as Ronnie Laws and Pressure on the original 45), was one of the most popular, sax-driven, cross-over hits of the 70’s Jazz-Funk Fusion era. He ushered in the sensualization of the soprano sax with Quiet Storm gems such as “Grace”, “Karmen”, and “Just Love”. Pressure Sensitive, Fever, and Friends and Strangers (Blue Note 1978), the title track of his third album, all propelled to gold status.